Fountain toothbrush



June 19, 1962 J. REITKNECHT FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1960 Jack Re/Tknech/ INVENTOK BY x, vm

June 19, 1962 J. REITKNECHT FOUNTAIN TOOTHBRUSH Filed April 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 53 so 56 1 54 3a A 5/ 5a 67 73 I llllllll II, \\A \,I\\\ 3/ 4/ 37 35 27 a; 23 5/ 57 53 4 Jack Re/Wmechf Z N VEN TOR BY (pm/y Em United States Patent 3,039,476 FOUNTAIN TODTHBRUSH Jack Reitknecht, 266 E. Broadway-B405, New York 2, N.Y. Filed Apr. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 21,735 6 Claims. (Cl. 13284) This invention represents an improvement over applicants US. Patent No. 2,908,925, issued October 20, 1959.

This invention relates generally to fountain toothbrushes and more particularly to a fountain toothbrush adapted to be carried in a pocket in the manner of a fountain pen or automatic pencil.

The patent above referred to discloses a fountain toothbrush of considerable merit having means for easily loading and easily dispensing toothpaste from a storage chamber onto the brush head. The invention herein introduces improved means for loading the toothpaste into the chamber and for sealing the toothpaste loading entrance opening. The improved sealing means include a slide clip element for enabling the fountain toothbrush to be carried in the manner of a fountain pen. The invention herein introduces further improvements with regard to the means provided for feeding the toothpaste through the toothpaste storage chamber to the brush head.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved fountain toothbrush including novel sealing means having a slidable pocket clip element for enabling the fountain toothbrush to be clipped to a pocket.

It is more particularly an object of this invention to provide a novel fountain toothbrush construction including novel and improved toothpaste feed means whereby a piston may be incrementally moved through a hollow handle for forcing toothpaste therefrom. The means allow for the return of the piston with a minimum of effort for facilitating the loading or charging of the handle with toothpaste.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention illustrating how the fountain toothbrush may be retained in a shirt pocket as is a fountain pen;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the fountain toothbrush showing the end closure cap and clamp ring removed from the handle;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially through the center of the toothbrush construction;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the toothbrush construction illustrating the end clamp ring removed;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the discharging end of the toothpaste construction;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane 7-7 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective disassembled view of the elements which comprise the improved sealing means.

With continuing reference to the drawings and initial reference to FIGURE 1, numeral 10 generally represents a pocket as for instance of a shirt to which it is desired to clip a fountain toothbrush generally designated by the numeral 11. The toothbrush 11 has a handle 23 and a perforated closure cap 24 separably attached to the handle by groove 25 defined therein adapted to engage ring 26 on the stud 27 at a first end of the handle 23. Handle 3,039,475 Patented June 19, '1962 23 is elongated and hollow and defines a cylindrical peripheral wall defining a toothpaste storage chamber 29 therein. Or course, other wall shapes may be utilized and/or surface ornamentation may be used on the wall if desired. The closure cap has a cavity '28 within which to accommodate head 30 of the toothbrush. The head 30 has a backing 31 from which tufts 32 of bristles extend. A short shank 33 is curved and extends from the backing 31. The short shank 33 is terminally threaded at 34 and is threadedly received in threaded bore 3'5 defined in stud 27. It will therefore be appreciated that the head 30 is removable from the handle 23 for facilitating easy replacement of the head. Bushing 36 is at the bottom of bore 35 and is engaged by the end of the threaded part of shank 33 to form a seal.

Passageway 37 extends through backing '31 and shank 33 and has a continuation 38 of the passageway formed as an extension of bore 35 to register passageway 37 with chamber 29 defined by the hollow handle 23. Nozzle 41 is disposed at the opposite end of the passageway 37 and is formed of rubber or synthetic resinous material. It is inset or otherwise attached to the backing 31 and has an axis of discharge approximately parallel to the tufts of bristles.

Chamber 29 is adapted to contain toothpaste, and the chamber is charged through inlet port or entrance opening 46 in the peripheral wall of the handle 23. Means 48 to be more particularly described below, are disposed adjacent entrance opening 46 for sealing the opening and for enabling the toothbrush 11 to be clipped to pocket 10 in the manner indicated in FIGURE 1. The feed means for enabling toothpaste to be fed from the chamber 29 through the passageway 37 is seen best in FIGURE 3. The means include a screw 51 which has a reduced pintle 52 at one end mounted for rotation in a pair of aligned openings 53 in flange 55 and 54 in stud 27. Screw 51 has a piston 56 threaded thereon, the piston including a skirt 57 and piston head 58 provided with a boss 59. The screw 51 is threaded through an internally threaded opening formed in the boss 59. The internal threads of the opening in the boss 59 are engaged with the threads of screw '51 so that when the screw is rotated, the piston is moved axially along the screw, much in the nature of a nut. The piston cannot rotate in cylindrical chamber 29 inasmuch as the screw 51 is laterally displaced from the longitudinal axis of the chamber 29. A compressible disk 60 is attached by rivets 61 to the head 58 of the piston. The disk 60 is of sufficient size to reasonably tightly contact the inner surface of the peripheral wall and also seal the threads of screw 51.

The outer end of the toothbrush handle has a closure plate 63 inset in it and held in place by a threadedclamp ring 64 engaged with a threaded end of the handle 23. The closure plate 63 may be held to the handle 23 in a particular position as by matching slots and lugs (not shown). Vent 64 is defined in plate 63 and prevents a vacuum from being formed behind the piston. Passage 65 extends through plate 63 and has a non-threaded part or shank 66 of the screw mounted for rotation therein. Seal 67 is received on part 66 of the screw and is disposed in a small well 62 in closure plate 63. The shank 66 has a non-circular end 68 on which knob 69 is fitted to facilitate rotation of screw 51. A brake 70 is operatively connected with knob 69 and includes a plurality of short teeth 71 spaced circumferentially around the knob 69. A leaf spring 72 is swivelly mounted on screw 73 extending from closure plate 63. The leaf spring 72 has secured thereto a pawl 74 engageable with the teeth 71 on the knob 69. A reaction pin 75 also extends from the closure plate 63 spaced from the screw 73. A horizontal projection 76 is formed on the reaction pin 75 and the leaf spring 72 is adapted to fit between the projection 76 and the closure plate 63. A terminal grip element 77 is secured to the leaf spring 72 for facilitating engagement and disengagement of the leaf spring 72 with the reaction pin 75.

In the use of the invention as disclosed to this point, toothpaste is loaded into the storage chamber 29 through the entrance opening 46 when the position $6 is at the end of the screw 51 remote from the head 3%). With the toothpaste filling the chamber 29, the entrance opening 46 is closed by the sealing means 56 to be more particularly described below. Toothpaste is discharged from the chamber 29 through the passageway 37 and the nozzle 41 by turning the knob 69 so as to turn the non-circular portion 68 of the screw 51 to thereby rotate the screw 51 and move the piston 56 longitudinally therealong to force toothpaste through the chamber 29 into the passageway 37. Noting FIGURE 2, it will be apparent that the knob 69 may be turned incrementally with the pawl 64 successively engaging the teeth 71 on the knob 69. The leaf spring 72 in engagement with the reaction pin 75 maintains the engagement between the pawl 74 and teeth 71. When the toothpaste is exhausted from the chamber 2 9, as when the piston "56 is carried to the end of the hollow handle 23 proximate the head 30, the grip portion 77 of the spring 72 is manually forced away from the reaction pin 75 toward the knob 69. The spring 72 may then clear the projection 76 of the reaction pin 75 and the spring may be pivoted to the position illustrated in FIG- URE for disengaging the pawl 74 and the teeth 71 permitting counter rotation of the knob 69 for recharging the chamber through opening 46 or for disassembling the unit, as for cleaning.

The sealing means 50 include a guide frame 8i having a channel portion defining legs 82 and 84 joined by web 86. The web 86 defines an aperture 38 which is aligned with the entrance opening 46 when the guide frame 80 is secured to the handle 23 as illustrated in the drawings. A screw 90 projects from the web 86 remote from the handle 23. The web 86 is made slightly arcuate so as to conform in shape to the cylindrical perimeter wall of the handle 23. A forwardly projecting portion 92 of the frame 80 defines a cavity 94. A slide clip 96 formed of slightly resilient plastic or metal or such is provided with a keyway opening 98 having an enlarged circular lower portion and a straight elongated slot portion 1492 in communication therewith. A resilient sealing member 194 is secured to the clip 96 adjacent the end of the straight slot portion 102. Above the sealing member 104, the clip 96 defines a recess 106 formed between flanges 103. The fingers 108 are reduced in thickness so as to enable them to be projected into the cavity 94 in the guide 80. In use, the upper rectangular portion 97 of the clip 96 is received on the web 86 of the frame 80 with the screw 90 projecting through the circular slotted portion 1%. As long as the screw '96 projects through the circular portion 100, the sealing member 104 overlies the aperture 38 and seals the entrance opening 46 and aperture 38 to prevent toothpaste from escaping from the chamber 29 therethrough. A lock nut 110 is receivable on the screw 90 for locking the clip 96 in this position. The fingers 108 project into the cavity 94 while the sides of the rectangular portion 97 of the clip 96 fits snugly between legs 82 and 34 of the frame 80. In order to reveal the aperture 83 so as to allow toothpaste to be dispensed into the charrrber 29 through the aperture 88 and entrance opening 46, the knurled lock nut 46 should be loosened so as to allow the clip 96 to be slidably moved relative to the frame 8t? with the screw 9% riding in the portion P32 of the slot 9%. Attention is called to FIGURE 6 wherein the aperture is illustrated for reception of toothpaste with the clip 96 being positioned at its lowermost position so that the aperture 88 is framed by the recess 106 between the fingers 108. The flexible and resilient sealing member assures that toothpaste is not discharged through the opening 46 or 88 but instead traverses the chamber 29 and escapes through the passageway 37. The lower portion of the clip 96 is somewhat bowed and terminates in a protuberance 112 which allows the material of a pocket 10 to be clamped between the wall of the handle 23 and the protuberance 112.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fountain toothbrush comprising an elongated hollow handle having a toothpaste storage chamber, an entrance opening defined in the peripheral wall of said hollow handle communicating with said storage chamber, a slide member having a portion with an elongated slot and a cantilevered resilient arm secured at one end to said portion, a screw projecting from said handle through said slot, resilient sealing means carried by said slide member adjacent said peripheral wall for overlying sealing engagement with said entrance opening and a lock nut threadedly received on said screw in bearing engagement with said member and retaining the free end of said arm in resilient engagement with said peripheral wall.

2. A fountain toothbrush comprising an elongated hollow handle having a toothpaste storage chamber, an entrance opening defined in the peripheral wall of said hollow handle communicating with said storage chamber, a guide frame secured to said hollow handle, said frame defining an aperture aligned with said entrance opening, a slide member having a portion with an elongated slot and a cantilever resilient arm secured at one end to said portion, a screw projecting from said frame through said slot, said slide member being in sli-dable engagement with said guide frame, resilient sealing means carried by said slide member adjacent said frame for overlying sealing engagement with said aperture, and a lock nut threadedly received on said screw in bearing engagement with said member and retaining the free end of said arm in resilient engagement with said peripheral wall.

3. A fountain toothbrush comprising an elongated hollow handle having a toothpaste storage chamber, an entrance opening defined in the peripheral wall of said hollow handle communicating with said storage chamber, a guide frame secured to said hollow handle, said frame defining an aperture aligned with and directly adjacent said entrance opening, a unitary valve and clip member slide clip having a cantilevered gripping end and an elongated slot, a screw projecting from said frame through said slot, said member being in slidable engagement with said guide frame, resilient sealing means carried by said member adjacent said frame for overlying sealing engagement with said aperture, and a lock nut threadedly received on said screw in bearing engagement with said member, said hollow handle having an apertured end Wall, a brush head having a passageway therethrough carried by said handle, said aperture communicating said passageway with said chamber, a screw rotatably retained in said chamber, a piston threadedly and eccentrically carried by said screw for movement through said chamber, said screw having a rectangular end, a knob having a rectangular aperture received on said screw, an apertured closure plate passing said screw mounted on one end of said hollow handle adjacent said knob, said knob having a plurality of spaced circumferentially positioned teeth thereon, a leaf spring secured to said closure plate extending into contact with said teeth for preventing rotation of said knob in one direction only, a reaction pin extending from said closure plate and engaging said spring for urging said spring into contact with said teeth, and a thumbnail grip in the form of a grooved plate fixed to said spring to facilitate disengagement of said spring and teeth.

4. A toothbrush comprising a hollow handle for containing dentifrice, a head with bristles mounted on one end of said handle, passage means connected between the interior of said handle and said bristles for conducting the dentifrice, an entrance opening in the side wall of said handle communicating with said interior, a clipand valve assembly adapted to retain said toothbrush on a support slidable on said side Wall so as to selectively cover and uncover said opening, means slidably retaining said assembly on said side wall, said assembly including a valve plate which selectively covers and uncovers said opening when said assembly is slid on said side wall and a cantilevered resilient arm extending from and secured to said plate, the free end of said arm resiliently urged against said side Wall for clamping a portion of said support such as a shirt pocket therebetween.

5. A toothbrush as defined in claim 4 wherein said assembly has a longitudinal slot therein, a recess in one end of said slot, a threaded stud fixed to said side wall extending through said slot and having a nut threaded thereon, and said nut retaining said assembly on said handle and locking it thereto when screwed into said recess.

6. A hollow handle for containing dentifrice, said handle having a side wall and spaced end walls, an entrance opening in the side Wall of the handle communicating with its interior and exterior, an outlet opening in one of said ends, a clip and valve assembly adapted to retain said handle on a support slidable on said side wall so as to selectively cover and uncover said opening, means slidably retaining said assembly on said side wall, said assembly including a valve plate which selectively covers and uncovers said opening when said assembly is slid on said side Wall and a cantilevered resilient arm extending from and secured to said plate, the free end of said arm resiliently urged against said side wall for clamping a portion of said support such as a shirt pocket therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,380,246 Peters et al May 31, 1921 2,293,430 Forrest Aug. 18, 1942 2,637,869 Tomlinson May 12, 1953 2,908,925 Reitknecht Oct. 20-, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 602,114 France Dec. 18, 1925 

